Survey of private and for-profit providers of higher education in the UK 2009/10 - Provisional figures

14 April 2011

HESA has run a survey to capture information about the number and size of private and for-profit providers of higher education in the UK. This work builds on the Universities UK report of March 2010 which examined the role of private and for-profit providers in the delivery of higher education in the UK and explored the different types of provider that fall into this category.

The survey was undertaken at this time to provide information about the extent of private provision within the more extensive higher education landscape referenced in the Browne review. It also aims to provide data in anticipation of the Higher Education White Paper which will be addressing the issues of the "level playing field" for example in the access by students attending private HE providers to state student finance.

Survey responses show a sector that, in 2010, taught nearly 38,000 students on higher education courses and a further 18,000 on FE-level courses. It also highlighted the activity of providers that offer pathways into higher education programmes at publicly-funded higher education institutions.

Summary results table

Table 1 shows a summary of the responses to the survey. This analysis excludes institutions that offered only FE-level provision, but where an institution had both FE and HE-level provision, both categories are included.

Table 1 Student registrations at Private HE providers 2009/10 by Mode, Level, Subject area and Domicile
	Further Education				Other Undergraduate				First Degree				Postgraduate
Subject area	Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Total
Laboratory-based subjects
United Kingdom	0	0	0		0	0	0		272	0	0		18	0	0		290
European Union	0	0	0		0	0	0		187	0	0		2	0	0		189
Non-European-Union	4	0	0		0	0	0		215	0	0		97	0	0		316
Total	4	0	0		0	0	0		674	0	0		117	0	0		795
Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element
United Kingdom	245	250	0		686	0	0		708	14	0		8	24	16		1951
European Union	0	100	0		81	0	0		116	2	0		4	24	0		327
Non-European-Union	0	0	0		85	0	0		591	3	0		233	18	0		930
Total	245	350	0		852	0	0		1415	19	0		245	66	16		3208
Business, management and law
United Kingdom	78	0	13461		97	8	1813		3362	1202	314		5966	1801	121		28223
European Union	111	0	72		16	5	25		1108	26	19		338	88	8		1816
Non-European-Union	591	0	3043		1744	6	288		3622	45	112		5597	142	23		15213
Total	780	0	16576		1857	19	2126		8092	1273	445		11901	2031	152		45252
Other subjects
United Kingdom	182	0	80		804	66	25		1090	107	30		524	375	37		3320
European Union	22	4	0		68	2	0		175	3	2		136	60	7		479
Non-European-Union	47	0	0		469	5	0		1608	121	4		565	125	30		2974
Total	251	4	80		1341	73	25		2873	231	36		1225	560	74		6773
Total	1280	354	16656		4050	92	2151		13054	1523	481		13488	2657	242		56028

Student numbers by provider

Table 2 shows the number of students reported for each provider. Where relevant, the number of FE students is also shown to provide an overall picture of the providers in this sector.

Table 2 - Student numbers by Mode, Level and Provider
	Further Education				Other Undergraduate				First Degree				Postgraduate
Provider	Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning	Total
Academy of Contemporary Music	225	0	0		360	0	0		551	0	0		0	0	0	1136
All Nations Christian College	0	0	0		50	2	0		17	0	0		4	11	0	84
Amercian InterContinental University London	0	0	0		21	0	0		676	0	0		67	0	0	764
Anglo European College of Chiropractic	0	0	0		0	0	0		591	0	0		0	59	16	666
Ashridge	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		28	221	58	307
Azad University (IR) in Oxford	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		26	0	0	26
BPP University of Professional Studies	0	0	0		0	0	35		1377	394	121		2282	691	21	4921
Birmingham International College	0	0	0		0	0	0		500	0	0		150	0	0	650
Brighton and Bristol Institutes of Modern Music	151	0	0		449	0	0		689	0	0		0	11	0	1300
British Institute of Technology and E-commerce	0	0	0		0	0	0		325	0	0		2058	0	0	2383
Castle College of Management Sciences	40	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		5	0	0	45
Champneys College Of Health and Beauty	0	0	0		31	6	0		0	0	0		0	1	0	38
Chaucer College Canterbury	0	0	0		0	0	0		73	95	0		0	0	0	168
Cromwell College of IT and Management	30	0	0		40	0	0		25	0	0		200	0	0	295
Delamar Academy	0	0	0		23	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	23
East London College	6	0	0		88	0	0		44	0	0		0	0	0	138
Franciscan International Study Centre	10	0	0		8	0	0		0	0	0		14	4	7	43
Free Church of Scotland College	0	0	0		0	3	0		19	0	0		3	0	3	28
Girne American University Canterbury	0	0	0		9	0	0		33	0	0		0	0	0	42
Greenwich School of Management	159	0	0		19	19	0		436	0	0		498	87	0	1218
Guildhall College	0	0	0		695	0	0		38	0	0		353	0	0	1086
Hansard Society	0	0	0		0	0	0		57	0	0		21	0	0	78
ifs School of Finance	0	0	16576		0	0	1133		0	0	208		0	0	0	17917
International Christian College	0	0	70		0	0	0		118	33	0		14	36	0	271
Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		9	2	0	11
Kaplan UK	0	0	0		190	0	958		899	0	51		1181	0	0	3279
Kings Bible College and Training Centre	0	0	0		20	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	20
Leyton College	0	0	0		0	0	0		20	0	0		76	0	0	96
Logos European College	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	8	2		0	4	1	15
London Business College	0	0	0		234	0	0		0	0	0		106	0	0	340
London Premier College	0	0	0		159	0	0		0	0	0		5	0	0	164
London School of Arts	0	0	0		10	0	0		68	0	0		10	0	0	88
Luther King House Educational Trust	0	0	0		0	0	0		47	33	0		3	48	0	131
Middlesex College of Law	117	0	0		0	0	0		127	0	0		0	0	0	244
Modern Montessori International	0	0	10		6	5	25		0	0	0		0	0	0	46
MOI College London	0	0	0		227	0	0		0	0	0		96	0	0	323
Montessori Centre International	0	350	0		0	0	0		15	16	0		0	0	0	381
Nazarene Theological College	0	0	0		5	19	0		46	10	0		28	37	33	178
Newbold College	30	4	0		120	1	0		0	0	0		51	56	0	262
Oxford College of London	230	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		140	0	0	370
Oxford Media and Business School	0	0	0		88	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	88
PMA Media Training	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		15	0	0	15
Professional Diving Academy	0	0	0		291	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	291
Quartic Training	0	0	0		23	35	0		10	28	0		3	10	0	109
Redcliffe College	0	0	0		23	2	0		36	2	0		12	7	30	112
Regents College	237	0	0		0	0	0		2484	0	0		1264	287	0	4272
Richmond, The American International University in London	0	0	0		0	0	0		927	33	0		16	0	0	976
Royal Academy Schools	0	0	0		50	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	50
Spectra College London	0	0	0		50	0	0		80	0	0		120	0	0	250
St Agnes College	0	0	0		96	0	0		0	0	0		27	0	0	123
Superior College London	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		45	0	0	45
TASMAC London School of Business	0	0	0		0	0	0		136	0	0		224	23	0	383
The Aga Khan University International	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		17	0	0	17
The Chippendale School of Furniture	0	0	0		18	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	18
The City College	0	0	0		410	0	0		0	0	0		47	0	0	457
The College of Law	0	0	0		0	0	0		1509	821	65		3740	923	73	7131
The Institute of Economic and Political Studies	0	0	0		0	0	0		41	0	0		0	0	0	41
The Management School London	0	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0		0	53	0	53
The Royal School of Needlework	0	0	0		17	0	0		0	0	0		0	0	0	17
The School of Sound Recording	20	0	0		133	0	0		175	0	0		5	0	0	333
The University of Buckingham	0	0	0		0	0	0		798	47	0		453	37	0	1335
Trinity School of Theology	0	0	0		2	0	0		21	0	0		0	0	0	23
Wales Evangelical School of Theology	0	0	0		0	0	0		39	3	33		40	49	0	164
West George College	25	0	0		85	0	0		0	0	0		25	0	0	135
Westfield House	0	0	0		0	0	0		7	0	1		7	0	0	15
Total	1280	354	16656		4050	92	2151		13054	1523	481		13488	2657	242	56028

Student numbers by provider type

The Universities UK report described a range of different institution types in this sector and the survey asked institutions to classify themselves into one of four broad groups. Table 3 shows the amount of activity allocated to each of these groups.

Table 3 - Student numbers by Mode, Level and type of Provider
	Further Education				Other Undergraduate				First Degree				Postgraduate
Provider	Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning		Full-time	Part-time	Distance Learning	Total
Campus of non-UK university or college	0	0	0		236	0	0		106	95	0		122	2	0	561
Private, for-profit company, wholly UK	670	0	0		2411	54	958		3307	28	51		5216	120	0	12815
Private, for-profit company, international	333	350	10		1002	11	60		2925	410	121		2452	756	21	8451
Private, not-for profit company/charity	277	4	16646		401	27	1133		6716	990	309		5698	1779	221	34201
Total	1280	354	16656		4050	92	2151		13054	1523	481		13488	2657	242	56028

Notes to tables

All figures contained in this report have been supplied by the individual providers in response to a standard survey questionnaire during the first quarter of 2011. HESA does not routinely audit survey data and the figures presented here are those supplied by the survey respondents.

The University of Buckingham is a full member of HESA. The University submits data through the main HESA collections and is included in standard HESA publications and press releases. The data presented here for The University of Buckingham has been drawn from the main HESA Student Record for 2009/10.

Data for Kaplan UK includes Holborn College, Kaplan Financial (London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham), Kaplan Law School and Kaplan Open Learning.

Survey method

A list of institutions for this survey was created by drawing together lists of private providers from a variety of sources; these included the Quality Assurance Agency, the British Accreditation Council and the Accreditation Service for International Colleges. Using whatever contact emails could be found, the survey was sent by email to these providers in December 2010. Responses were chased during the first quarter of 2011.

Non-respondents

There remain a number of providers that did not make a response to the survey. From those that were investigated, a number of themes emerge. A small number of institutions were, during 2009/10, in the process of establishing themselves and had not yet recruited any students. The survey team also came across some institutions that operate under more than one trading name or that have different branding at different locations.

However, it is accepted that this may not be a definitive list of HE providers. Additions or requests for amendments should be addressed to the HESA Private Providers Project.

Other survey respondents not included in this analysis

The initial list of providers that was collated for this survey included a significant number that, upon further investigation, offered only FE-level qualifications in 2009/10. Many of these institutions did not make a response to the survey though some FE-only institutions did; FE-only institutions are not included in this analysis. The institutions that made a submission but reported exclusively FE-level students for 2009/10 were:

• Study Group
• Centre for Regional and International Development
• International Bible Institute of London
• London Skills Academy
• William Booth College
• UWC Atlantic College
• Alperton College.

Definitions

As far as possible, the definitions used for this survey reflect the definitions used in HESA publications.

Students included in the survey

Institutions that provided any teaching at HE-level were asked to include all students who were registered for the 2009/10 academic session and who were aiming towards some sort of qualification or credit which can be counted towards a qualification. Although the primary focus of this survey was HE-level students, providers were asked to include other student numbers in order to provide a full picture of their activity. Institutions that returned only FE-level students were excluded from the final results. See the definition of Level (below) for the distinction between HE and FE.

Students on courses that did not lead to any qualification - or credit that can be counted towards a qualification - were not included in the survey.

The traditional concept of the academic year runs from autumn to summer and respondents were asked to provide the number/headcount (not Full-Time Equivalent) of students for this period 2009/10. In cases where the academic year for an institution followed a calendar year then the final figures for 2010 were returned.

Mode

Student numbers were grouped according to whether they were full-time (and in attendance), part-time (and in attendance) or distance learning.

Full-time students are those normally required to attend an institution for periods amounting to at least 24 weeks within the year of study, on thick or thin sandwich courses, and those on a study-related year out of their institution. During that time students are normally expected to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience which amount to an average of at least 21 hours per week.

Part-time students are those recorded as studying part-time, or studying full-time on courses lasting less than 24 weeks, on block release, or studying during the evenings only.

Distance learning students are those who receive their education at a location of their choosing - not physically on-site in a traditional classroom or laboratory. This category includes any students that are being taught mainly over the internet. Distance Learning students might attend occasional tutorials on-campus though this would not be a significant part of their time commitment.

Level

A postgraduate course is any course for which the normal entry requirement would be a first degree. This includes masters degrees, PhDs and postgraduate certificates and diplomas. It normally equates to levels 7 and 8 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and includes any equivalent qualifications validated by non-UK universities. This category also includes professional qualifications that are at a postgraduate level.

The first degree category includes degrees validated by non-UK universities. This normally equates to level 6 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and includes any equivalent professional qualifications.

Other undergraduate includes all sub-degree Higher Education. This includes Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), Higher National Diploma (HND), Higher National Certificate (HNC), foundation degrees and professional qualifications. This normally equates to levels 4 and 5 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and includes any equivalent qualifications validated by non-UK universities.

Further Education and below includes any qualification at levels 1, 2 or 3 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). For the purposes of this survey, this category includes any qualifications that are below HE level and therefore not included in the categories above.

Subject

The subject classification used in the survey follows the price groups used by HEFCE but with Business, Management and Law split into a separate category. The subject groups used in this survey were:

Domicile

UK domiciled students are those whose normal residence is in the UK, and for the purposes of this survey do not include Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

(Other) European Union (EU) students are those whose normal residence is in countries which are European Union (EU) members. These are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Non-EU domiciles include any country not listed above. This category includes Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Notes for editors

General enquiries should be directed to:

• HESA Private Providers Project
• [email protected]
•  
• HESA Press Office
• +44 (0) 1242 211120
• [email protected]